Ham Radio Nets are nothing new. Many of us have not participated in a net in a long time. Sometimes you say you don’t have enough time, you have done that before, you didn’t know that net existed or your just are not paying attention. This is your hobby and these are your friends. This news article is a good reminder that we can still be social, even when we are “Social Distancing”. It is also a reminder that as Hams, we have the advantage. It’s not that easy to meet someone new, with common interests, on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It’s real easy to meet someone new, with common interests, on your Radio.
Feeling lonely? NC Ham radio operators use old tech to create a new social network
Don’t you think it’s time we paid more attention and put a little more effort into it? For many of us, we have some free time right now. Some of us, like myself, are still working but I have decided to put more effort into it. Who knows, I might have lots of free time if this keeps up. I have quite a few friends in this hobby yet I have not spoken to a lot of them in a while. Some I have only spoken to in person and not on the radio. Put some effort into it, find out what nets are available to you locally, on HF and on Digital Voice modes (D-Star, DMR, System Fusion, etc.) There is a lot going on out there, we just have to put some effort into finding it.
Keep in mind that you can pick up a radio, on any mode and make contacts and new friends anytime. The Nets really help us stay in touch with those friends and give us a fixed time to meet. With all that is happening right now, it’s a good time to check on your friends anyway.
Here are a few nets that I know of:
- WCARC Nets
- Oatmeal Net – Every Weekday, except Holidays, from 7:30 to 8 AM on 146.94 (-) MHz | Tone 107.2
- Radio Active Net – Every Tuesday at 7:30 PM on 146.94 (-) MHz | Tone 107.2
- Mesa County RACES Net – Every Wednesday at 7:30pm on the GMRA Repeater System
- Colorado ARES Net – Every Sunday at 8pm – Available on VHF, DMR, D-Star, Echolink and more….
- HF
- 100 Watts and a Wire Net – Sundays @ 1800 MST on or around 7.180 MHz
- Friday Night Adult Beverage net – Fridays @ 2100 MST on 7.204 MHz
- D-Star
- Raspberry Pi Net – Mondays @ 2000 MST on REF038C
- Colorado D-Star Net – Tuesdays @ 0200 UTC on REF035B
- D-Star User Group – Saturdays @ 0000 UTC on XREF002A
- DMR
- Digital Mode Information and Emergency Preparedness Net – Sundays @ 0000 UTC on TAC 310
- Rocky Mountain DMR Net – 1st Saturday of the month @ 1900 MST on Talkgroup 700
You know there are a lot more than this. Do some Google searches and ask around. You will be surprised how many nets are out there you didn’t know about.
Stay Healthy.
73, John, WJ0NF